How to Create Restore Points in Windows 8.1

If you’ve used an earlier version of Windows, you may have stumbled upon the System Restore feature. Windows 8.1 has full support for System Restore and restore points; it just hides all the pieces from you.

If you’ve enabled System Protection, Windows takes snapshots of its settings, or restore points, before you make any major changes to your computer —d install a new hardware driver, perhaps, or a new program. You can roll back your system settings to any of the restore points.

A restore point contains Registry entries and copies of certain critical programs including, notably, drivers and key system files — a snapshot of crucial system settings and programs. When you roll back (or, simply restore) to a restore point, you replace the current settings and programs with the older versions.

Here’s how to create a restore point:

1Wait until your PC is running smoothly.

No sense in having a restore point that propels you out of the frying pan and into the fire, eh?

3Tap or click the Create a Restore Point tile.

Windows flips you over to the desktop, brings up the System Properties Control Panel dialog box, and opens it to the System Protection tab. (Cool, huh? Sometimes it’s much easier to use the tiled side of Windows 8.1.)